Look Alike Sound Alike (LASA) – High-alert Medications (Nursing)

00:00 So we've talked about where this information comes from that they compiled.

00:04 Now we're gonna look at this category. Look alike, sound alike drugs.

00:09 That's why we call them LASAs, Look Alike Sound Alike.

00:14 So this category has a most updated list at the website we've listed there but why is this a problem? Look alike sound alike sounds like something you'd make up in junior high, right? No. What this is are drugs that look alike or sound alike so that we could have a problem with someone potentially making an error and grabbing one drug over the other.

00:37 Administering the incorrect drug when they meant to grab another drug.

00:41 Now, we've got the website for you.

00:43 Just wanna remind you, you should bookmark that because while a bedside nurse is not the one with prescriptive authority, that would be a nurse practitioner or we're talking about a physician on the health care provider team, but as nurses, we are the ones who are legally responsible for safe administration of that drug, evaluating the patient, evaluating the effectiveness of treatment.

01:07 So it's really important that we stay current on the list of Look Alike Sound Alike drugs and other helpful information at the ISMP.

01:15 Now we got a chart here for you. Don't focus on memorizing.

01:19 I'm just giving you examples of drugs on this Look Alike Sound Alike list.

01:25 Now, it's in the CNS and PNS drug category.

01:28 So, I grouped those together for you.

01:30 Adrenergic agonists given IV: epinephrine, phenylephrine, norepinephrine.

01:34 Those are examples.

01:36 These are the adrenergic antagonist: propanolol, metoprolol, labetalol.

01:41 Those all end in -olol's.

01:43 We know they're beta blockers, these are Look Alike Sound Alike meds.

01:47 Now there's some anesthetic agents: propofol, ketamine.

01:52 And lastly in this chart, you've got antiarrhythmics like lidocaine or amiodarone.

01:58 So this is just 4 groupings of CNS, PNS-type drugs that are on the Look Alike Sound Alike list.

02:07 What's the most important concept for you to take away from this, is to be aware that this has been a known problem in health care.

02:16 So you wanna be on the alert of which drugs in your area of specialty you're most likely to encounter.